Team-Building: What Difference Does it Make? By Dawn Smith
Do team-building away days such as white water rafting or assault courses really help teams to work together, or are they just fun events that have a short-term uplifting effect on morale, at best? Dawn Smith gathers opinions and considers the evidence. “The key with team building, as with any event, is to be clear […]
The Leadership Top Flight
While many businesses strive for excellence, only very few achieve outstanding performance on a regular basis. So why is it that military organisations such as the Royal Air Force (RAF) can deliver outstanding execution with such extraordinary consistency? Justin Hughes, managing director of Mission Excellence, examines what lessons the corporate world can learn from the […]
What’s their Motivation?
In today’s competitive marketplace, employers are well versed to the various “benefits” attached to certain jobs, but normally these incentives simply focus on attracting people into the jobs in the first place, rather than motivating them to achieve more. Sales performance trainer Andy Preston provides an insight into the motivation aspect of incentives and how […]
Motivation, Focus and Performance
In today’s competitive market, ensuring that staff are performing to their maximum potential is essential to the success of the department and the company overall. But what can be done to ensure that all staff are motivated and strive to achieve their very best? Sales performance trainer Andy Preston looks at how to improve the […]
Competition Bites Team Spirit
Almost half of all workers believe that competition amongst co-workers is responsible for destroying team spirit.Over a third of employees surveyed on behalf of Investors in People, the development standard claim they work with colleagues who are very or fairly competitive in the workplace whilst a quarter admitted that they actually find themselves competing with […]
Storming Ideas
Banning the boss, inviting outsiders and water pistols – are all essential items for creating a storming ideas-generating session. Paul Sloane explains why. The brainstorm (or thought shower as some people now call it) is the most popular group creativity exercise in business. It is quick, easy and it works. But many organisations have become […]
Trainer’s Tip: Team Tactics and Sabotage
Derek Hughes has come up with this team exercise that includes some underhand practices… Split into groups of six and give them a task to complete (eg build a bridge out of paper, card and paper-clips that can hold a cup of water).Distribute the resources randomly so groups have to barter with each other to […]
Teach Them to Achieve
Setting goals is the easy part, helping staff believe and achieve them is where the work really starts. Annie Lawler looks at how to teach staff the ability to achieve. Poor communication contributes massively to underperformance and demotivation in any workforce, whilst clear and open communication has the opposite effect.One area which is often overlooked […]
Running a Motivational Session – 10 Steps to Success
At some stage most managers need to conduct a motivational training session with his or her team. Bob Selden, who has been a manager and trainer for many years, sets out 10 helpful points to help them reach that goal. So, you’re a manager. So, you know you have to run a training session or […]
The Way I See It: Overcoming the Barriers to Collaboration
Being miles apart, whether tens or thousands, is no longer a barrier to team working, thanks to new technologies, yet staff are often slow to grasp these opportunities. Kelly Low, sales director of Premiere Global Services, looks at collaborative technologies and their implications for training. According to new research from Frost and Sullivan1, collaboration is […]
Training Business News in Brief
Helmsley Fraser Commits to TAPLearning provider Hemsley Fraser Group has announced a policy commitment to the TAP (Trainer Assessment Programme) Learning System, the training skills certification programme administered by The Training Foundation.Under the requirements of the TAP Partners Programme, Hemsley Fraser’s learning professionals will achieve TAP certification following participation in a skills refresher and assessment […]
Technology and the Team
Being miles apart, whether tens or thousands, is no longer a barrier to team working thanks to technology, yet staff are often slow to grasp these opportunities. Kelly Low, sales director of Premiere Global Services, looks at collaborative technologies and their implications for training. According to new research from Frost and Sullivan1, collaboration is a […]
Trainer’s Tip: Arrest the Time Robbers
This exercise, from TrainingZONE member Bryan Edwards, helps delegates address their time-wasters. I use a “time robbers” exercise that asks delegates to identify their time thieves, whether they are self-imposed (S.I.) or imposed by others (I.B.O.) and the reason for the time robber. It’s really important to identify the reason, so we get a solution […]
Opinion: Something Old, Something New – Successful Team Building
With the ever-changing face of the ‘team’ today – project teams, matrix working, remote teams, cross functional working groups and virtual teams – the need for effective team building is without question. So, what’s new in team building? Well…everything and nothing. Steve Marriott of Kaizen Training reports on the latest team building innovations, reflecting on […]
The Way I See It … Something Old, Something New – Successful Team Building
With the ever-changing face of the ‘team’ today – project teams, matrix working, remote teams, cross functional working groups and virtual teams – the need for effective team building is without question. So, what’s new in team building? Well…everything and nothing. Steve Marriott of Kaizen Training reports on the latest team building innovations, reflecting on […]
The Way I See It … Fun Ways To Achieve The Diversity Challenge
Skye Mackie of Skills Boosters LIVE shares her tips on how to create a diversity course that is interactive, informative and fun. Designing courses that are interactive, informative and enjoyable is a key ingredient for all successful training initiatives. And there’s no reason why things should be any different when it comes to delivering the […]
The Way I See It … The Communications Pyramid
Done badly, says Rich Lucas, Director and Training consultant of Supremacy training solutions, communications can fall apart; read on for his take on what constitutes the layers of the communications pyramid. Communication is easily one of the most important attributes of any manager.Done correctly it can motivate and empower staff, make working processes and workplace […]
What Happened Next? Fresh Ways To Motivate Staff. By Sarah Fletcher
Finding activities to inspire unmotivated staff can prove difficult. In the next edition of this new series What happened next? we report on the results and lessons learned by a member who sought solace in the Any Answers forum. By Sarah Fletcher Motivating staff – anyone been to circus school?“I’m looking for ways to give […]
Feature: Managing Remote Teams
Managing a remote team presents a clear challenge. While remote working often attracts independent types, there is a risk of isolation. Simon Hayward, CEO Academee takes a look at the issues and offers some advice. A remote team, where team members are geographically dispersed rather than located in one place, presents tremendous opportunities for flexibility, […]
Teamwork is Most Sought After Skill
Interpersonal and teamwork skills are the most highly sought after, according to a survey of 4,500 employers.A report, by Job Centre Plus, found that regardless of occupation, whether unskilled or professional, teamworking and interpersonal skills were highly sought after by employers.Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus Lesley Strathie said that the research would help the organisation […]
